Outside the shadows of some glitzy new projects, city leaders have allowed Los Angeles to decline.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can make Los Angeles work again. LA can be more livable and business friendly.

What will it take? New leaders with a fresh view of what our city should be and what we can accomplish. Let’s start by making government more efficient so our precious tax dollars are used wisely for improvements and services.

As the next City Controller, I will be an independent watchdog, not a lapdog. I will advocate for the people of Los Angeles to encourage efficiency and investment, eliminate waste and shine a light on corruption.

Please make a contribution to our campaign. With your support, we will win.

A Reformer on the Inside: My Six Commitments to the People of Los Angeles

I will be a public advocate for all the people of Los Angeles.

As City Controller, I will champion core services (public safety, streets, sidewalks, water, power, trees, parks, libraries) ... the fundamentals of a livable city. I will work to ensure corporations that do business in our city play by the rules, including providing equal access for all Angelenos to financial services. I will offer my office to coordinate the city’s response to the foreclosure crisis, which still threatens our neighborhoods and our people.

I will act to limit the influence of special interest money on our campaign.

The City Controller works for you ... I will work for you. My campaign will rely primarily on individual contributions. We will participate in the public matching funds program, which limits corporate contributions. We welcome contributions from everyone who cares about Los Angeles. If you live in LA, work in LA, do business in LA ... if you believe in a strong California ... in strong American cities ... we need your help, and we would appreciate it.

I will insist that my staff share my “Respect the Core” philosophy for our city.

Los Angeles is not a ghetto, and it’s not a dumping ground. Our people and our land are our most precious assets. My staff will share my philosophy. They will be required to live in the city of Los Angeles. I want to know that they pay taxes in the city and go home every night to LA city neighborhoods.

I will ask hard questions that challenge the status quo.

Does the downtown stadium deal make financial sense for the city?
Why does it take 18 months to open a restaurant in Los Angeles?
Why is there no meaningful program to fix the city’s broken sidewalks?
Why is the ratio of parks to people so low in LA?
Why has Los Angeles left federal money on the table that could help solve our problems?

I will hit the ground running on Day 1 as City Controller.

On Day 1 of my service as City Controller, my office will immediately launch these initiatives:

“THINK SOLUTIONS” – To help solve the city’s most difficult problems, such as the sidewalks mess, my office will advocate for multi-year, performance-based budgeting and improved coordination across city departments. We will work with city administrators to ensure policymakers have reliable long-range numbers, including on the city’s debt load, obligations and unfunded liabilities. My team will focus like a laser on government efficiency and performance, as well as cost controls and collections.
“THINK LIVABLE CITY” – Ensuring a vibrant future for Los Angeles depends on creating a more livable city. My office will seriously explore a borough system of government for Los Angeles to bring government decision-making, including service delivery, closer to the people.
“THINK BUSINESS” – Los Angeles should be an entrepreneurial mecca, attracting employers from all over California and the West. My office will view budget and service delivery through the prism of economic development, not to foster low-wage, cyclical jobs in boom-bust industries, but to create an environment where businesses that can choose to locate anywhere choose Los Angeles.

I will respect city employees.

My views are straightforward: Los Angeles should have the best paid workforce it can afford, with employee benefits that are competitive. A number of city employees have expressed to me concern about city pension funds. I hear you. As City Controller, I will absolutely keep a watchful eye on your money.

More About Me

I’ve been involved in civic affairs in LA to encourage responsible growth and development that respects neighborhoods, green space in the city, mass transit, and decent and affordable housing. I’m founder of the community group LA Neighbors United, a member of the board of directors of Friends of the Los Angeles River, and an at-large representative on my neighborhood council. As a member of the LA Chamber, I participated in their 2011 Washington, D.C. trip, helping represent the interests of Los Angeles (including 30/10) to federal policymakers. A former executive with CB Richard Ellis, today I own a small business.

I am a member of Congregation Kol Ami. I was Bar Mitzvahed and confirmed. I’m a proud public school kid. I am told I would be the first neighborhood council member elected to citywide office, and the first openly gay official elected citywide in Los Angeles.

The Next City Controller ...

Our city is in decline, but my love for Los Angeles is steadfast. We can make the city work again, if we act now.

Our next City Controller won’t be a career politician who has consistently voted to cut core services, under-invest in infrastructure and raise the cost of living and doing business in Los Angeles. The career politicians by and large don’t get it, and have given up trying to solve the most difficult problems. But not me. I’m prepared to fight to fix our city.

Please make a contribution to our campaign. Thank you very much.

Cary Brazeman
November 2011

Paid for by Brazeman for Controller 2013
3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1290, Los Angeles, CA 90010

To make a campaign contribution by credit card or electronic check, please click on the "Contribute" button above. The campaign also accepts check by mail at the address above. General campaign inquiries: info@carybrazeman.com or 310-205-3592